Tian Yougen was overjoyed, and everyone else felt envious as well.
A female educated youth plus a strong military officer who could work hard—who was more capable was obvious at a glance.
If Comrade Wen could earn five work points a day herself, then her military officer boyfriend could easily earn full work points. After more than ten days, the busiest farming period would almost be over.
In other words, during the busiest time of the fields, Comrade Wen not only wouldn’t need to work much, she would even be able to earn extra work points. It was enough to make people green with envy.
Everyone couldn’t help but think that Comrade Wen had really found someone who cared for her so much—her life was truly fortunate.
Someone at the window joked kindly, “Comrade Wen, you’ve really found a great partner. He’s on leave and still came all the way here to help you work so you won’t be tired. When are you two getting married?”
“Yes, yes, when are you getting married? Let us share in your happiness too!”
Standing nearby, Wen Ranran felt sweet in her heart as well, because she hadn’t heard any news at all before Lu Shian arrived.
If it weren’t for Zhu Pingjuan telling her that her boyfriend had come in the morning, she would have thought seeing Lu Shian was just a dream.
If before, she had only chosen Lu Shian because of his overall good qualities, she now admitted that when she saw him at the educated youth dorm that morning, her heart had started beating uncontrollably.
To judge whether a man was good, you should not listen to what he says, but look at what he does.
Lu Shian was clearly someone who did more than he said.
Wen Ranran looked up at him inside the room, her face flushed red from being teased by everyone.
“He… Comrade Lu has already submitted a marriage application to the army. I’m not sure exactly when we’ll be able to get married.”
She only knew that marrying a soldier required political review, but she had no idea how long it would take.
Would the whole process take half a year?
Just as she was thinking this, she quietly asked Lu Shian, “Lu Shian, how long does your unit take to approve a marriage application? When can we get married?”
At this moment, Lu Shian had already changed into work clothes suitable for farm labor.
When he came in the morning, he had worn a dacron shirt so as not to embarrass his girlfriend, and he also brought an extra set of clothes for working.
Although he was only replacing Wen Ranran’s work, as a strong laborer and a soldier with better physical fitness than ordinary farmers, the brigade assigned him a more demanding task—plowing the fields.
Holding the plow, he couldn’t help but feel his emotions surge when he heard Wen Ranran’s soft voice.
From the very first time he saw her, he had wanted to marry her. Now that she was asking this, did it mean she was also eager to marry him?
Just the thought made him feel overwhelmed with excitement.
He steadied himself and answered carefully, “Normally it takes about two months. But when I submitted my application, I urged my superiors a bit, so it should be about one and a half months.”
In truth, he was being very restrained when he used the word “urged.”
When he called his superiors the previous day, they had the impression that if the organization didn’t approve this marriage quickly, he might immediately resign from the army.
So his marriage approval would definitely come within a month and a half.
But now Lu Shian still felt that a month and a half was too long.
After a pause, he couldn’t help but add, “If you’re in a hurry, I’ll push it again when I get back and try to get it approved within a month!”
Wen Ranran blushed and quickly waved her hands. “No, no, a month and a half is fine! That’s already very good. Don’t let this affect your work.”
Although she was anxious, she wasn’t that anxious.
Lu Shian could only help her for half a month of farm work; for the remaining month or so, she would grit her teeth and get through it.
Seeing her blush, he smiled and said, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll arrange everything. Actually, I came today to tell you something else.”
Thinking it was something serious, she asked, “Go ahead.”
Lu Shian took the opportunity and said, “Last night I called home and discussed the bride price. My parents said the bride price and the ‘four big items’ cannot be missing. The bride price will be set at 999 yuan for now, and as for the four big items, we’ll have to let you wait a bit—we’ll make it up once we’re in the family housing area.
If you or your family have any other requests, feel free to mention them. As long as they can manage it, we’ll try to arrange it.”
A bride price of nearly a thousand yuan, plus the four big items?
Even Wen Ranran was a little shocked.
She knew that a worker’s monthly salary was only a little over thirty yuan. A thousand yuan as a bride price was already extremely sincere.
After thinking for a moment, she said, “My own matters, I can decide for myself. No need to ask my family.
Let’s go with your arrangement for the bride price, but I don’t know how to sew. A sewing machine would just sit unused, and I don’t need a radio either. Let’s skip those two items.”
Lu Shian nodded. “Alright, we’ll follow your wishes. We won’t buy those two items. We’ll just convert them into cash for you instead.”
That way, it would satisfy his parents’ wishes, and nothing would go to waste.
After speaking, he took out six or seven large-denomination bills and some national vouchers from his bag and handed them to her.
“What I just mentioned is what my parents prepared. As for mine, I have a passbook and some military allowance—several thousand yuan in total, but I didn’t bring it with me. I’ll give it to you later.
I brought 100 yuan this time, and I’ve already spent some. I have 80 left, and I’m keeping 10 for travel expenses. Take this, and spend it however you want. If the vouchers aren’t enough, I’ll find a way to exchange more.”
Wen Ranran’s eyes lit up.
She actually did have things she wanted to buy. With money in hand and now industrial coupons, she could finally buy a wok and cook for herself.
And right—there were leeches in the fields. She should also buy him a pair of rubber shoes for work.
She quickly began planning her shopping list in her mind, looking bright and lively.
Seeing that she was always thinking of him, Lu Shian felt deeply satisfied.
The sun gradually rose, and everyone in the fields was busy working.
Lu Shian rolled up his trouser legs, went barefoot into the field, and said, “The sun is getting strong. Go back to the dorm and rest. I’ll start working.”
Tall and upright, holding the plow in one hand and guiding the ox with the other, he didn’t look like he was doing farm work at all—he looked like he was showing off.
Wen Ranran smiled as she admired him for a while before reluctantly returning to the dormitory.
The two of them were affectionate and in sync, which made Wang Dafen, who had been secretly listening from the neighboring field, extremely disdainful.
Women really shouldn’t be treated too well. Treat them too well, and they’ll climb all over men in the future.
Not even married yet, and he’s already rushing over to help a woman with farm work—what a fool. What’s so great about being a military officer?
But thinking of the thousand-yuan bride price she had just overheard, Wang Dafen became jealous again.
That shameless wench surnamed Wen had ruined her son and sent him to suffer at the reservoir—why should she be living such a good life?
Wang Dafen’s eyes rolled.
Wen Ranran was pretending to be considerate—but did her military officer boyfriend even know she was a shameless fox-like woman?